Year Two
Date: 15/6/2009 11:00
Weather: Showers clearing
Location: Nomuka'Iki Island (20 16.57' S, 174 48.31' W)
Author: Peter.

We have been anchored up at Nomuka'Iki Island the site of a former prison camp for the past few days in an attempt to let my cold pass. We have done very little except relax, watch dvd's and play games. Later today will be our first venture ashore here as I am finally starting to feel better. Although not the worst cold I have ever had it sure as hell lasted allot longer and as a result gave me some time to reflect. When you are sick at home there is a little more to distract you than when you are sick in a small confined space such as a yacht. You could go have a long hot shower or bath. You could play play station or watch tv all day whilst lying on the couch, both of which are difficult onboard given a limited supply of both water and power. Also it would be just nice to hop on a phone and talk to some friends for some cheering up. You start to worry about spreading the cold to your partner (Kylie) as the space is so small and there is no where to hide and you look at them somewhat bored, even though, just outside is an amazing tropical paradise to explore.

Changing thoughts. The cruising lifestyle brings home a real appreciation of how lucky we are to be Australian. The quality of life we lead is just so wonderful, it's a shame many people just can't see it. Something as simple as shopping for groceries, the choices we have in Australia we just take for granted. It was amazing to see how limited the supermarkets were in New Zealand let alone here. And the fact that most people here in the outer islands are mainly subsistence farming. There are very few shops if at all, let alone much income or money to buy simple every day items. If I read my guide correctly, of the seventeen inhabited islands of the Ha'apai group only five islands have electricity. The remainder have none except for a telephone powered by a 12 volt battery and a solar panel. This is still rather hard for me to imagine yet from our meetings with the locals and conversations with other cruisers they still all seem happy. Both Kylie and I are so lucky to be in a position to be able to do this, to have such great supporting and caring families (my mum and dad are the ones who instilled in me the values that see me here today) to have comforts in our lives and jobs that allow us to do this. I would love to bring some students away so they can see how much harder others are doing it, and perhaps appreciate more what they have and as a result get off their lazy asses. Can you imagine living without power? Every modern cruising yacht we have met has most of the modern power related gadgets of a modern home.

Again changing thoughts. I can't help but be impressed with the job Stuart did when designing Jura. We still to this day get alot of compliments and questions about her. Stuart not only has a good sense of what is needed but he also has a good eye on what looks right. Without a doubt we a have a fast cruising boat(only one boat we left NZ with beat us here and they motored for 59 hours to do it. I think they were shocked to find we had sailed it and only just arrived after them), fast to me means less time doing the boring bit at sea and more time in the wonderful anchorages. Also we are now starting to get a better understanding of what a great ride or motion Jura gives us through the water. I started to think we had it bad on the crossing over from NZ but after talking to other cruisers who did it at the same time we had, we had it so much better. Whilst it felt rough we mainly glided from wave to wave during the second gale that was on the nose. The other boats all complained of their yachts just falling off the backs of each wave. One minute being in your bunk, the next feeling like you are in the air. I do remember this feeling as our previous yacht was similar and Jura moves nothing like her. Even on a moderate swell in our old yacht you never ever wanted to walk in front of the mast as you would just get thrown around. I once even got thrown out of the nav seat and hit my head on the companion way stairs. Jura is just so much smoother than this although she does like to heel a little more. A factor of her narrower water line that I did ask for.

Finally, navigation. Kylie is finding it a little stressful that our GPS does not line up. According to the GPS we are currently anchored in the middle of Nomuka'Iki Island. I have in the past tried to teach her old school navigation with paper charts and pencil, compass, parallel rule etc. Back then she had little real interest but now I think she is starting to appreciate what she needs to learn. We are currently finding our way through a maze of reefs and uncharted bommies that need lots of care and attention. I agree at times it can be unnerving as you make your way through reefs of breakers on each side that are just in the middle of the ocean, but to rely wholly on a GPS would be stupid. Once again we are so spoilt back home that our GPS's are so accurate and our charts so up to date.

By the way I also miss free to all modern medicine just around the corner when I am sick. Even if the doctor does nothing, it is still reassuring to have visited them.

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